World War II Honoree

John S. Basey

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Shelbyville, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Fireman Second Class. Inducted into the United States Navy May 9, 1944 at Indianapolis, Indiana, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon his graduation from boot camp and Fire Training, he was transferred to the USS Hoel Destroyer, DD-533 for duty as a Fireman. Wednesday, October 25, 1944 during the ensuing Battle-of-Samar, the Destroyer and her shipmates along with an armada of U.S. Naval Warships was attacked by an Imperial Japanese Naval Fleet. Reported missing in action, when the Destroyer was sunk by the enemy naval cannon fire off-shore of Leyte, Philippine Islands. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Forest Hill Cemetery Shelbyville, Indiana. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.